Walsall rue Byfield miss as Millwall fight back for victory
Dec 14 2009 by Brian Halford, Birmingham Mail
CAN Walsall sustain a push for the League One play-offs?
That’s the big question. This match offered a few serious clues to the answer.
For half-an-hour, the suggestion was that, yes, they can. The Saddlers were brighter and quicker than Millwall and led through Manny Smith’s eighth-minute volley, his first goal for the club on his 54th appearance.
But the pivotal moment arrived on 24 minutes. The injury-ravaged hosts were still piecing together their system and their confidence when Darren Byfield raced clear.
Team-mates raced up in support but he took his chance on a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and lost. David Forde blocked and the Lions remained in the game.
Next came the biggest clue to Walsall’s prospects this season.
They became careless in possession, particularly at the back where too often, even under no pressure, the ball was simply hoofed anywhere with the result that it came straight back again.
It was untidy, flustered football, lacking conviction and redolent of a team which does not truly believe it is top-six material.
It is one thing, admirable enough, to get in the top half of the table but another to show the ruthlessness to keep climbing.
The teams which compete in the play-offs in May will have won games like this.
It might have been different if Steve Jones and Troy Deeney had been present.
While Byfield squandered that crucial chance, the other two Saddlers goalscoring musketeers this season were injured and suspended respectively. Peter Till’s corner set up Smith’s goal and Sam Parkin will be better for the outing, but Jones and Deeney are integral to the team plan and were much missed.
Another clue there. The Saddlers’ strongest XI is quite strong. But scratch only a little below the surface and the squad is stretched.
Smith had supplied the perfect start with a smart, first-time shot as Walsall controlled the first third of the match. But even before half-time warning signs were there as their carelessness gave Millwall so much possession that, in the end, the home side, like a batsman fed half-volleys, played themselves back into form.
At the break, Lions boss Kenny Jackett told his players the game was there for the taking and they believed him.
Steve Morison was allowed the freedom of the box and then, courtesy of a flawed offside trap, the freedom of the entire Walsall half to score in the 59th and 76th minutes.
Clayton Ince had no chance with either goal but was again uncertain at times.
There is plenty of food for thought for manager Chris Hutchings with a tough Christmas and New Year schedule looming.
MILLWALL (4-4-2): Forde; Dunne, Robinson, Frampton, Smith; Schofield, Laird (Bolder, 84), Abdou, Martin; Grimes (Price, 69), Morison. Not used: Sullivan, Ward, Marquis, Fuseini, Grabban.
WALSALL (4-4-2): Ince 5; Weston 6, Smith 6, Hughes 6, Sansara 5 (Vincent 74, 5); Till 6 (Nicholls, 78), Bradley 6, ★ MATTIS 7, Richards 5; Byfield 5, Parkin 5. Not used: Gilmartin, McDonald, Taundry, O’Keefe, Grigg.
Referee: A d’Urso (Essex).
